Linda Simpson,

Sunshine sandwich makes
W3 another great success

09/06/14
Whaley Bridge's Water Weekend lives and dies by the weather. Over the years, there has been everything, even early June morning frost one year.

The 15th anniversary event last weekend proved to be a 'sunshine sandwich'.

Friday, launch day, was pure summer. As the festival opened with youngsters' disco music on the canalside stage and an evening of acoustic music in the Mechanics' Institute, temperatures stayed high and the sun shone late. All over Whaley Bridge, it was pavement party time, with people eating and drinking out of doors.

Saturday dawned fair, but people had heard the forecasts: thunder and heavy rain. It duly arrived as the main events began, boat trips, market stalls, all the fun of the fair. It was a morning washout, the meat in the sunshine sandwich.

Saturday ended up brighter, and Sunday was another warm sunny day. Queues for free boat trips, which disappeared on Saturday morning,
grew throughout Sunday as family crowds flocked to the canal basin. The committee's verdict:

"One of the very best days in W3's 15-year history."

More than 1,000 people took a free boat trip, down
on last year's record number. During Saturday's downpour, almost no-one wanted a boat trip. But business was brisk on Sunday, with long queues and
no complaints. Said Rick Heys, boatmaster: "1,064 people on the boats - that's terrific, considering the weather and the fact that we had a smaller flotilla
this year."

Whaley Bridge is the home of W3... a friendly little town in the High Peak area of Derbyshire... in an area of outstanding natural beauty, known as the Gateway to the Goyt... 7 miles north of Buxton... 18 miles south of Manchester... 28 miles west of Sheffield

Our thanks to all...

The Water Weekend was founded through an initiative by Whaley Bridge town council in 2000. We wish to thank the town council for financial and other support, and a commitment to the future.
Thanks also to the Canal & Rivers Trust for permission to use the canal basin and High Peak borough council for use of the car park.
Special thanks go to our main sponsor for an eighth year, Autotech Service Centre; also to our primary sponsors the Jodrell Arms, Peartree Print and
The Review.
Also to the many advertisers, to our supporters and volunteers, especially the crews of our boats, and the committee.
Without these layers of support, there would be no event.

Click on the pics for a closer look

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